Religion, Ecology, and Self (Haberman)

This course is designed as an introduction to the ecological and spiritual movement known as “Deep Ecology.” The essence of Deep Ecology is to ask deeper questions. We face many problems in the world today; many argue that these problems are deeply interconnected. Deep Ecology is one response to global problems. It seeks fundamental transformations in our views of world and self, claiming that there is no ontological divide in the forms of life. Deep Ecology aims for an environmentally sustainable and spiritually rich way of life that recognizes the intrinsic value of all life forms and strives for the reenchantment of the world. In this course we will approach Deep Ecology from a Religious Studies perspective that investigates traditions in terms of their thought, action, and communities.